Keuchel, Bregman lead Astros past Mariners, 6-2

by JIM HOEHN, Associated Press

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch taps starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel with the ball as he leaves the game against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

SEATTLE (AP) — Alex Bregman had a tiebreaking two-run double in Houston's four-run seventh inning and Dallas Keuchel pitched effectively into the eighth to lead the Astros to their fifth straight win, 6-2 over the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Keuchel (12-3) allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two in his longest outing since April 5. The left-hander started the season 9-0, but was 2-3 with a 5.35 ERA in his seven previous starts since coming off the disabled list on July 28.

Yuli Gurriel and Brian McCann had solo homers in the fifth for the Astros, and Josh Reddick added a two-run single in the seventh. Nelson Liriano finished the eighth inning and Ken Giles struck out the side in the ninth.

After starter Erasmo Ramirez limited the Astros to four hits, including the two homers, through six innings, Houston broke through against the bullpen.

Marwin Gonzalez singled and McCann walked against Marc Rzepcynski (2-1). Nick Vincent came on and Cameron Maybin advanced the runners with a bunt. George Springer was walked intentionally to load the bases and Bregman sliced an opposite-field double down the right-field line.

Jose Altuve was intentionally to reload the bases. Reddick's two-out single scored two more runs.

The Astros, who managed just two singles through four innings, erased a 1-0 deficit with two homers in the fifth. Gurriel opened with his 16th, sending a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left. After Gonzalez grounded out, McCann followed with his 14th.

Kyle Seager brought the Mariners even in the sixth with his 20t, a two-out solo shot to center.

First-inning singles by Jean Segura, Nelson Cruz and Seager staked the Mariners to a 1-0 lead.

Seattle, coming off a three-game sweep of Oakland, entered the day 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second wild card spot.

MARINERS MOVES

Seattle claimed OF Jacob Hannemann and RHP Seth Frankoff off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Monday. RHP David Phelps (right elbow impingement) was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL and LHP Zac Curtis was designated for assignment. Frankoff pitched in one game with the Cubs, but was 2-8 with a 4.40 ERA in 24 games at Triple-A Iowa, including 21 starts. Hanneman split time between Double-A and Triple-A. He hit .265 with five homers and 26 RBI, along with 23 steals in 79 games at Iowa. Hanneman is expected to join the Mariners.

Mariners: CF Jarrod Dyson (groin) is day to day, manager Scott Servais said. RHP Felix Hernandez, on the 10-day DL (right shoulder bursitis),threw a 37-pitch bullpen session Monday. "The bullpen today was much better than it was the last time," manager Scott Servais said.

FIERS DROPPED FROM ROTATION

With the acquisition of RHP Justin Verlander and RHP Lance McCullers coming off the disabled list to start Wednesday, his first since July 30, RHP Mike Fiers is the odd man out and will be used out of the bullpen. Fiers, 8-9 with a 4.78 ERA in a team-high 27 starts, is 1-5 in his last eight starts, giving up 10 homers over that span. Fiers has allowed 31 homers, fourth most in the AL. "I know he hasn't pitched as well as he can in his last five or six starts, there was a good start mixed in there, but he was a pro about it," manager A.J. Hinch said Monday. "He understood, he's been in the league a long time, he's not naive. He said he'd give us his best effort out of the pen."

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (10-8, 3.82) makes his much-anticipated Astros debut. The 34-year-old, who was the 2011 AL Cy Young winner and MVP, was acquired Friday just before the trade deadline. He was 183-114 in 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander is 10-8 in 22 career starts against the Mariners, including 5-5 at Safeco Field.

Mariners: LHP Ariel Miranda (8-6, 4.85 ERA) makes his team-leading 28th start for an injury-ravaged rotation. Miranda, who has won just once in his last 10 starts, has surrendered 35 home runs, most in the majors. In his last start, he was tagged for six runs in 4 1/3 innings, including four homers.